A lot of people might assume that certain celebrities look so good simply because they get facials and cosmetic procedures quite often, and while that may be true, for other celebs it's all about genetics. There is literally no skin care routine or amount of plastic surgery that can make someone look a quarter century younger without also looking kinds of odd and unnatural. (And let's be honest, we see that sometimes, too.) But there are some celebrities who have always looked younger than they actually are, so it can't always be pinned on surgery.
That's actually why there are so many actors who can play characters years younger than their real-life age. That's a feat much easier for actors who have youthful genes, though, and casting directors know it, and will often hire older but youthful looking actors to portray characters in their teens and 20s. It's not just actors; some musicians look a lot younger than they are, too.
Whether it's natural or has been enhanced, there are a number of well-known celebrities who are much older than they appear. Some really look incredible — not that older people are necessarily any less beautiful — and it surprises us every time.
Keep scrolling to see some of the celebrities who are actually much older than they look and what their real ages are right now. We bet some of them are going to surprise you!
Gabrielle Union
Actor Gabrielle Union has been gracing TV and movie screens for decades. She stole our hearts in Bring It On all the way back in 2000, and we have to be honest, she doesn't look like she's aged much at all some 20 years later. But she actually just turned 49 in October 2021. Seriously, can we steal her beauty secrets?
Jennifer Lopez
At 52, J.Lo still shocks us with her youthful looks on a daily basis. We're not saying she looks like she's 20, but she easily passes for at least a decade younger than she is. Interestingly, Jennifer was already 30 when her first hit single, "If You Want My Love," came out. She's definitely one of those celebs who has always looked younger than her age.
Selena Gomez
Every time we see singer and actor Selena Gomez, we still think she's the teenager we were first introduced to years ago. At 29, she still looks like an adolescent — and not even an older adolescent. Maybe it has something to do with her baby face and impeccable skin. Whatever it is, she's working it.
Lorde
Singer Lorde looks very much like she's still a teenager falling asleep in study hall, and while she may have been a teen when many of us first heard her on the radio, she's now a woman of 25. If you look really closely at her face, you can tell she's no longer an adolescent, but we think her aesthetic contributes to making her seem a lot younger.
Halle Berry
Yes, she's 55. And yes, she really looks that good. Halle is one of those people who seems to grow more and more gorgeous as she ages. She definitely has fun with filters on social media, but she also occasionally gives us bare-faced, filter-free glimpses at her glowing complexion — and she honestly looks 20 years younger than she is.
Lily Collins
You're seriously not going to believe this one. We sure didn't! English actor Lily Collins may look like an actual child, but she'll actually be 33 years old on March 18, 2022. We never, ever would have guessed that. She'll definitely be playing younger characters for years to come.
Cole Sprouse
Cole Sprouse is still pulling off the role of a teenager on Riverdale, but in real life, 30 is just around the corner for him. The actor, who was born in Italy, turned 29 in August 2021. This one definitely seems genetic. His skin is super smooth, and those bright blue eyes make him look more youthful.
Dylan Sprouse
Like we said, it's gotta be genetic. Like Cole, twin brother Dylan also looks way younger than his 29 years. Maybe it's because we all still think of the two of them as the adorable little boy in Adam Sandler's Big Daddy, despite the fact that they've both been in tons of shows and movies since then.
Lenny Kravitz
Honestly, we can't with Lenny Kravitz. At 57, he looks amazing and puts much younger guys to shame. It sounds bad, but it's true. He lives a really clean lifestyle, especially for a rock star — he eats vegan and mostly raw and is a total yogi — but it's clearly working for him.
Elliot Page
We feel like actor Elliot Page wants to look older, but just doesn't. He has such a baby face and always has, and he often still plays much younger characters than his real age. He's 34 and will be 35 in February 2022. Even those little tiny laugh lines we've spotted of late don't make him look like he's in his mid-30s.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
The Queen's Gambit actor is another one who has been working on-screen since he was actually really young (remember him in Love Actually?), but he's a full-on grown-up now. London-born Thomas is now 31 years old. We think it's his bone structure that makes him seem a lot younger than he is.
Bianca Lawson
Actor Bianca Lawson — who has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, including Queen Sugar and Pretty Little Liars — has the most amazing complexion. It could trick you into thinking she's still in her early 20s. Shockingly, though, Bianca is actually 42, with a birthday coming up in March 2022.
Linda Cardellini
Actor Linda Cardellini has a great face — and it's not one that looks her age in the least. The Dead To Me star is 46 but could easily pass for at least a decade younger. She looks especially young when she sports her fringey bangs. Her thick, dark hair definitely adds to her youthful appearance.
Jamie Chung
If we didn't remember her from The Real World: San Diego in 2014, we never would have guessed that actor and TV personality Jamie Chung is almost 40. The San Francisco native and new mom turned 38 in April 2021, but she still looks like she could be in her early 20s, if you ask us.
Nicki Minaj
Just based on when her career took off, we would guess that Nicki Minaj is in her early 30s, but based on looks, she could easily pass for a spry twentysomething, which is a far cry from her actual age. Believe it or not, the new mom is set to turn 39 in December 2021.
Pharell Williams
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who knew that musician Pharell Williams is almost 50?! We sure didn't. He looks to us like he's still in his 30s at the most. He was born in 1973, though, so that makes him 48. We seriously would like to know what his skin care routine is because … wow.
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett has always been a stunner, but she too seems to have gotten more beautiful with age. Her skin is flawless, her hair is beautiful, and just look at those lips! We wouldn't put her a day past 40, but she's actually 63 years old. That is so insane! If only we could all age so well. There must be some celebrity secret or something.
